10 Tips to Karaoke The Right Way

Aug. 11, 2011 — -- When karaoke became popular in Japan back in the 1970s, no one ever imagined it would become a worldwide sensation. The amateur sing-a-long has since given birth to video games such as Guitar Hero, High School Musical: Sing It and a slew of other karaoke-themed activities.

As with any other form of popular entertainment, there is a right and wrong way to do things. Courtesy of karoakeguy.net, citynetmagazine.com and uskaraokealliance.com, here's a look at 10 useful etiquette tips to remember when you karaoke:

1. Do not tap, drop or swing the microphone. The crowd will surely love you and the DJ will love you even more for not abusing his or her equipment.

2. Please do not be rude and heckle other performers. Not everyone can be Michael Buble or Celine Dion. Besides, karaoke is all about having fun, not how much talent you have.

3. Never, ever point the microphone toward the speaker. Feedback is never good -- unless it is constructive advice from a boss, friend or family member.

4. Sing with the microphone at least five to six inches away from your mouth or you will end up sounding like Darth Vader.

5. Have fun. Be sure to clap for other performers. And never make fun at anyone's expense.

6. Wait your turn. Folks just like you are waiting, and it's rude to sing out of turn.

7. Never get mad if someone sings your all time favorite song. Either sing it again or choose another one. There are literally hundreds of songs for you to choose from.

8. Never go on stage and start singing without being invited.

9. Try not to kill the the vibe with a ballad once everyone is up and moving after singing a slew of dance tracks.

10. And finally, never nag or yell at the DJ. The more aggressive you become, the less likely it is that your song will play.